It’s hard to believe that Allure Magazine (a personal favorite) has been around for 20 years! For the upcoming March twentieth-anniversary issue (on stands February 22), Allure conducted a beauty survey of 2,000 women and men, taking a peek into the minds of the average American to see how beauty perceptions and preferences have changed over the past 20 years. It examines the face of American beauty and what we as a culture find attractive. The results indicate a shift in the features we find beautiful and shows that cultural desires have changed – perhaps forever.

Allure conducted their first beauty survey back in 1991,  and Christie Brinkley was considered to have the ideal, all-American look with her blond hair, blue eyes, slim figure, and soft features.  The new survey shows that Angelina Jolie is our beauty icon today with her gorgeous dark hair, intelligence, exotic features and humanitarian lifestyle. Men and women, alike, show a passion for strength and intelligence – in addition to beauty.

Additional findings include:

Celebrity Ideals

• Both men and women both list Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Tom Cruise, Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Matthew McConaughey, Harrison Ford, and Hugh Jackman in their top picks for most beautiful males.

• Both men and women both Angelina Jolie, Halle Berry, Megan Fox, Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Roberts, Sandra Bullock, and Jessica Alba in their top picks for most beautiful female.

Beauty Preferences

• 64% think women of mixed race represent the epitome of beauty.

• 70% of those who wish to change their skin color wanted it to be darker – this was pronounced among women.

• 74% of those surveyed believe that a curvier body type is more appealing now than it has been over the past ten years.

• 69% of survey respondents believe there is no such thing as an “all-American look.”

• 85% of those surveyed believe that increased diversity in this country has changed what people consider beautiful.

Racial Differences

• African-American and Hispanic women are twice as likely as Caucasian women to report not wanting to change their body in any way.

• African-American and Hispanic women are more likely than Caucasian women to feel they’re more attractive than their significant other.

• A third of African-American women think of themselves as the most attractive person in the room.

• African-American and Hispanic men are nearly twice as likely as Caucasian men to say the butt is among the most attractive features of a woman.

• African-American men are directionally more likely to embrace and aspire to curviness – they say they want curvier hips and a higher/rounder butt or a larger butt.

• African-American women are least likely to be on a diet/watch their weight.

The Age Factor

• The younger the male respondent, the more likely he is to agree with the statement “Cougars are hot.”

• 86% of everyone surveyed think that middle-aged women of today are perceived as more attractive than they were two decades ago.